Ports Blast Giants in Series Opener
Published on June 26, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE - Stockton's Josh Whitaker hit three home runs and collected seven RBI's as the Ports crushed the San Jose Giants by a 15-4 score on Monday night at Municipal Stadium. In the opener of a three-game series, Stockton jumped out to a 7-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings before cruising to the victory.
Whitaker (3-for-4, 3 HR, 7 RBI) hit two-run homers in the first and second innings before a three-run shot in the eighth. All nine Ports starters finished the game with at least one hit.
Alex Burg (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) homered for the Giants in the loss. Luke Anders (2-for-4, 2B) also finished with a pair of hits.
Stockton jumped on San Jose starter Shawn Sanford for three runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead. With one out, Beau Taylor drew a walk before Whitaker stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run homer to deep left center. Back-to-back singles from the next two hitters, A.J. Kirby-Jones and Max Stassi, then put runners on first and second before Mitch LeVier's two-out, RBI single made it 3-0.
The Ports extended their lead with three more runs in the second inning. Yordy Cabrera led off with a double into the left center gap before scoring two batters later on Taylor's sacrifice fly. Whitaker then belted his second two-run home run of the game for a 6-0 advantage.
Stockton made it 7-0 in the top of the third as three straight singles from B.A. Vollmuth, LeVier and Michael Gilmartin to start the inning produced a run.
Sanford (5-5) was charged with the loss after surrendering eight runs (all earned) on a season-high 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
The Giants didn't pick-up their first hit of the game against Ports starter Josh Bowman until the bottom of the fourth inning when Andrew Susac brought home a run with a double. With one out, Adam Duvall reached second when the first baseman Kirby-Jones dropped a pop-up on the infield. Then with two outs, Susac ripped an RBI double down the left field line to cut the Stockton lead to 7-1.
The Ports, however, got the run right back in the top of the fifth as Sanford issued a one-out walk to Vollmuth before a double from LeVier prompted a pitching change. Stephen Harrold (3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) was summoned from the bullpen and he induced Gilmartin to groundout, but Vollmuth scored on the play.
Bowman (2-6) earned the win for Stockton after yielding just two hits and one unearned run over seven innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Harrold didn't allow a hit in the sixth and seventh innings out of the bullpen before Whitaker struck out again in the eighth. Gilmartin started the inning with a single before Taylor singled with two outs. Whitaker then crushed a three-run homer to deep left center for an 11-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Anders led off with a single, advanced to third when Bobby Haney doubled off the wall and scored on Ryan Lollis' groundout. However, the Ports came back with four more runs against Mitchell Beacom (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO) in the top of the ninth. An RBI fielder's choice from Cabrera plated the first run and then with two outs, Chad Oberacker hit a line drive into the right field corner for an inside-the-park home run.
Burg brought the Giants to within 15-4 with a one-out, two-run homer to left in the bottom of the ninth.
Notes: The 15 runs allowed for San Jose matched a season-high ... Stockton out-hit the Giants by a 16-6 margin ... Monday was the beginning of a six-game homestand ... San Jose was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position ... The Giants fell to 2-3 in the second half and 40-35 overall ... Whitaker has 11 home runs this season.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Taylor Rogers (4-6, 4.38 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Blake Treinen (6-5, 4.38 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com. The game will also be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.
California League Stories from June 26, 2012
- Mavs Take First Half Pennant with 8-5 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Blast Giants in Series Opener - San Jose Giants
- Nash Knocks 19th in Fifth Straight Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- 66ers Ride out Storm, Win 7-6 - Inland Empire 66ers
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